Dear Friends
A great evening with BYouth
On Monday evening, Charlotte and I (and Celeste) had the privilege of trying our best to answer some great questions which the young people at BYouth put to us. Questions included, ‘Are all other religions wrong?’, ‘Why are Christians homophobic?’, ‘What do you think of the Trad Wife Movement?’ We enjoyed ourselves. Meanwhile, above are some photos from Elysian Farm which the young people visited at the end of May for Making Good, their social action project. The young people cleared and levelled a space behind the chicken coop so that the coop could be extended. They also cleared the garden space to make it more usable, and they enjoyed visiting and feeding the animals!
Continuing The God Story
This Sunday we shall be continuing with our series of sermons on The God Story. This week we’ll be reflecting on The Prophets and Exile. So we’ll think about the prophets who provide us with an honest and raw look into God’s pain and heartbreak during the rise and fall of Israel as they passionately seek to call the nation back to God. And we’ll think about how, after a period of exile for God’s people, many were able to return to their land albeit under very different circumstances.
Praying for your PCC members
Next Monday, our Parochial Church Council (PCC) meets for one of its regular meetings. Please do pray for each member, that in meeting together they would know the Lord’s wisdom and that there would be joy in their meeting. On top of the many more regular matters, the PCC will need to meet a little more often over the coming months to plan for the vacancy and agree the Parish Profile – the document which will go to all who may be interested in the role of Rector of St Nicolas.
Supporting a good cause
Last week, our Families and Children's Ministry Leader, Charlotte, sadly lost her friend Abby after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Charlotte writes, “After learning that her illness was terminal, Abby was determined to use the time she had left to make a difference, organising and performing a fundraising concert in aid of Sarcoma UK. At one stage it was uncertain whether she would be well enough to take part, but she was able to perform at the concert in May.” Charlotte has asked if we could share Abby's fundraising page, as it will remain open only for a short while longer. If you would like to support the appeal, click here, and to read more of Abby's inspiring story, click here.
Keeping up to date
Our weekly notice sheet is available both online (click here) and in church. Excerpts from our 10 o’clock service last Sunday, including the latest sermon in The God Story series, are available here.
And finally…
On Saturday 11 July, the church remembered St Benedict. Amongst many other things, he believed that “your fellow community members are essentially the means by which you yourself are formed, shaped, and honed. Without that friction, a tool becomes dull and less useful. The friction is the very thing that keeps things moving in the right direction. That friction allows us to discover our own rough edges that may be in need of smoothing down.” (Br. Lucas Hall, Society of Saint John the Evangelist)
Wishing you much grace and peace.
Alan
Alan Jenkins
Rector
